BFS First GCSE Results!

Bedford Free School celebrate their first set of GCSE results

Headlines:

- 27% achieved 5or more A*- Bs and nearly 10% achieved 5 or more A*- A

- 80% achieved a C or better in English; 65% C or better in Maths

- Incredibly strong progress in the fundamental subjects of English & Maths

- Top performing student achieves 11A* and 1A; with more on track for Oxbridge

- Fantastic performances by students from all starting points

Bedford Free School is delighted today to be able to announce an extremely strong set of first GCSE results.

Before joining BFS this first cohort of students were attaining well below national and local averages when aged 11 and 13, but their exam results today should place them well above the national and town averages, with 55% achieving 5 or more A*-C grades including English & Maths.

Mark Lehain, Principal said: "We are extremely satisfied with how well our students have done. They have come so far in their short time with us – some only joined us in Year 10 - but embracing how we do things at BFS transformed their grades. Our smaller school, longer day and focus on the basics have all played their part in helping boost students’ performance – especially in the vital subjects of English & Maths. Both in terms of attainment and progress, the outcomes are impressive.

"That said, this is just a starting point for us as a school. We now have solid evidence that what we do here works, but we know we can and must get even better. We expect our students results to go up even more in the coming years – especially given that from 2017 we will have had cohorts all the way from Year 7."

Nigel Syson, Chair of Governors said: "These first results are a testimony to the hard work by all of those involved in Bedford Free School, from its inception in 2010, to its opening in 2012, through to the exams this summer. They show that high expectations, firm discipline, and a commitment to the local community pay dividends. The Governors would like to congratulate all of the students receiving results. They also want to thank students’ families and many other members of the local community for their support along the way and for placing their trust in the school in its early days. "

Continuing, Mark Lehain said: "We could only have opened the school with the backing of local parents and the wider community. We can’t mention everyone who helped us as there are simply far too many, but today we want to take the opportunity to thank:

- Ministers & civil servants at the Department for Education for giving us the green light,

- Richard Fuller MP for his endless support, particularly in the tough times in the early days,

- Ian Pryce & his team at Bedford College for getting us off the ground, and

- Bedford Borough’s Chief Education Officer Colin Foster (& his predecessor Jane Winterbone), and all the staff at Bedford Borough for their wisdom and support, day in and day out.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and Bedford Free School is a great example of a community supporting the students in our care."

Results elsewhere this year have yet to be confirmed. However, when compared to last year’s results the headline statistic of 57% 5A*-C inc. English & Maths would place BFS:

o Above the national average of 53% and the Borough average of 52%

o Top of the town’s state secondary & upper schools

o Second in the Borough overall for state schools

Progress in English & Maths from Year 6 SATs has been far above national averages, both in terms of the proportion making "expected progress" and "above expected progress"; when starting points are taken into account, progress is even further above average.